FC Cincinnati controls moments in 1-0 win over second-place Charlotte

FC Cincinnati's goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt talks about what goes on in his head when he defends against penalty kicks.
The Enquirer/Phil Didion

FC Cincinnati's Mitch Hildebrandt (1) celebrates with fans in the Bailey after the second half of the USL soccer match between FC Cincinnati and the Ottawa Fury at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. FC Cincinnati secured a 3-1 win over Ottawa before more than 20,000 fans.(Photo: Sam Greene)

“It certainly wasn’t easy by any means,” Koch, FC Cincinnati’s head coach, said after the match.

Difficult indeed. Cincinnati, then five matches unbeaten, had to play second-place Charlotte, a difficult task for any team, but especially for one that had only won two games on the road this season in United Soccer League play.

But FC Cincinnati fired into the lead in the 75th minute when substitute Kevin Schindler, who entered into the match a minute before, blasted Djiby Fall’s header into an open net. The goal was the German midfielder’s first for the club.

In truth, from there, the rest of the match acted as a trial run for what Cincinnati’s postseason might resemble, as the team seeded higher in the Eastern Conference began to batter the visitors.

But Cincinnati, despite all melee, looked calm and controlled the moments.

The biggest moment came in the 93rd minute, though, when the match official awarded Enzo Martinez a penalty for a tackle from Sem de Wit.

The moments leading up to Jorge Herrera’s penalty attempt were the most high-pressured the club had faced since Mitch Hildebrandt’s three saves in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win over the Chicago Fire.

Yet there was Hildebrandt once more making a massive save, diving to his right and denying Herrera of a 13th league goal and a late equalizer.

“A game like tonight was going to come down to moments,” Koch said. “We capitalized on a set piece and we are happy that Kevin got his first goal for the club. Also, a huge moment for Mitch, who stepped up to the plate and took care of business on the penalty kick. We’re very happy to get the result and get three huge points.”

Conference standings outlook

When FC Cincinnati hosted New York Red Bulls II on Sept. 9 at Nippert Stadium, the match paired seventh-place Cincinnati with the club one place higher in the Eastern Conference standings. The home side won 4-2.

At the time, FC Cincinnati was still scraping for a spot in the league playoffs later this October. But fast forward to the club’s win in Charlotte on Friday night, and the mood is much different.

Prior to the Saturday night matches, FC Cincinnati sat in sixth, only behind the fifth-place Rochester Rhinos on a second tiebreaker. That doesn’t mean Cincinnati will finish sixth, however.

The team has two remaining matches; Some teams around them still have four, meaning there’s still time for constant movement in the standings. But currently, Cincinnati is two points away from a home playoff match and five points away from missing the playoffs. Thus, there is some breathing space.

A good time for good times

FC Cincinnati, now unbeaten in its last six matches, has the best run of form in the Eastern Conference. In fact, all five clubs higher in the standings have either lost or drawn their last two matches.

Throughout the season, Koch has stated he has no problem playing on the road in the first round of the playoffs. If the club advances, that would mean Cincinnati plays a minimum of five consecutive away fixtures after a long summer spent primarily at Nippert.

But if Cincinnati’s form continues, and it should as the two remaining teams are both in the bottom three in the conference, Koch’s side could enter the USL Playoffs as the hottest team in conference play.

If FC Cincinnati has to play on the road in the first round, that certainly would be an uncomfortable matchup for the club’s opponent.